Burnishing machine



pt 1952 c. c. KINKER ETAL BURNISHING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 25, 1950 INVENIOR. C/arence C. K/nker M .W u M J W w w TTORN S Sept. 2, 1952 c. c. KINKER ETAL 2,608,803

BURNISHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

C/arenc'e 6T flmlrer 'damea" d. Murfayb HTTOENE Y5 P 1952 c. c. KINKER ETAL 2,608,803

BURNISHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1950 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. fi/arence C. Maker y James J, Mw'fayb Patented Sept. 2, 1952 BURNISHING MACHINE Clarence c. Kinker, Manitou Beach, Mich., and James J. Murtagh, Toledo, Ohio, assignors to Gerity-Michigan Corporation, Adrian, Mich, a

corporation of Michigan Application January 25, 1950, Serial No. 140,528

This invention relates to means for bufing and burnishing metal articles in preparation for the application of protective coatings thereto such as platings.

The bufiing, burnishing and polishing of metals in preparation for the application of protective coatings, as for instance electro-plating, has always, so far as We are aware, been a slow, laborious, hazardous and expensive process. The use of fabrics, skins, leather and applied abrasives, in a rotary polishing wheel, is very costly and each article requires special buffs.

,Useful life of the buff is impaired by wear which increases with the complicated nature of the contour or surface acted on. This is especially tru where sharp edges are encountered and the abrading material of the wheel is rapidly torn into shreds by working against such edges or other rough surfaces. In such cases, an exhaust system is required 'to remove and dispose of the residue from the wheel with a considerable exe penditure of both power and labor.

Furthermore, the abrasives applied to the abrading wheel are rapidly dissipated and lost by centrifugal action,v thus creating a messy residue the removal of which applies an additional load on the exhaust. In addition, considerable effort and expense are entailed in the removal from the crevices of the treated articles of the abradant remaining thereon after the abrading operation.

The primary object of this invention is to obviate the objections above-noted by the provision of simple and efiicient means for buifing and burnishing meta-l articles while submergedv in or wet with a burnishing solution and at a considerable saving in time, labor and material used over the means heretofore used for the purpose.

, Another object of the invention is toimprove the abrading means heretofore employed byreducing to a minimum the dissipation of abrasive material. v

Another object of the invention is the provis'ion, in a machine of the class described, of an improved form and construction of rotary abrading element whereby abrading of an article may be accomplished in arapid, efficient and economical manner.

Further objects and advantages of the invention'will be apparent from the following detailed description and from the accompanying drawings illustrating oneembodiment thereof, in which f Fig. l is aplan .view ofan apparatus embodying the invention with a part broken away;

12 Claims. (Cl. 51-134) Fig. 2 is a rear end view of the apparatus with parts broken away; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus with parts broken away; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the rotary buffing mat of the machine, and Fig. 5 a section thereof on the line 5--5 in Fig. 4. I

Referring to the drawings, I designates the base frame of the machine, the top 2 of which is inclined to the horizontal and provided with an upstanding journal stud 3 with its axis normal to the plane of inclination of said top. A turntable 5 is mounted for rotation about the axis of the stud 3 and has a depending hub sleeve 6 journaled on the stud. The table 5 is formed by annularly fianging the sleeve at its upper end, and the outer edge of such flange is provided with a skirt flange 1 that is braced with respect to the sleeve by radial webs 8. The flange I terminates at its lower edge in an annular outtumed flange 9 to which the inner edge of an annular workcarrying rim portion I0 is attached. This'rim presents a broad article-supporting surface disposed in a plane normal to the hub axis, and it is perforated orof foraminous form to permit liquids to pass freely therethrough. In practice, it is preferable to make the rim I0 in sections; as shown, to facilitate building and to permit damaged parts to be easily and quickly removed' for repair or replacement. A series ofwork-carrying fixtures I lfmay'be fixedly mounted on the rim Ill formovement therewith, or the work-pieces l2 tobe burnished may be securedin some other suitable manne directly to the rim.

The hub sleeve 6 is provided at its lowerend with a large ring gear l3 that is driven at slow speed from a motor I 4 through suitabl reduction gearing. In they present instance, the motor pulley l5 has driving connection with a pulley I6 through a belt [1 and this last pulley has driving connection through suitable speed reduction gearing in the case l8 with a small pinion [9 in mesh with the ring gear l3. A substantially U-form of tank 20 forholding a burnishing liquid 2| extends around the front orlower side of the table 5, and. fora distance rearwardly at each side thereof, 'in the inclined plane of rotation of the work supporting rim ll] of the table. The bottom of this tank extends slightly below the table rim: l0, so that the rim and work, as they pass through the lower forward loop :portion of the tank, are submerged in the burnishing liquid 21 therein. The rear or terminal ends of the leg portions of the tank 20 are open to permit the movement pending flange or inner side wall part that-= terminates in adjacent relation to ansann-ularv splash flange 22 mounted on and projecting outwardly from a ledge on theetablelskirtrlinto.

the tank 20.

The table 5 turns in clockwise direction and its rim l0, after leaving the outlet end of the tank 20, passes through a washingezone- Azand: 7

then through a Work removal and loading zone B. In the washing zone, a cleaningiwater or other suitable fluid is sprayed against the top andibottonn'ofathenim H1 iandrthe .work thereon" fromiperforatedrpipes 23 whicirhave communication-through: a .pipelrM- with a suitable-source, preferably under. pressure; The resultant drain: age :liq'uid 'enters-:the ;=open tOLYDf-w sump 25 located beneath the rim portion of the: turntable instherrear oi the frame :I.

Atirleast one-rotary bufiingor polishing mat isr locatedvwithin 13118 lower front portionvof theritank zflxandis at least partially submerged iniithe burnishing' liquid: 2 i therein. The .mat 3flsisr-disposed-iirr thepaths of the toprsuriaces of thee-workpieces: l2- as:-.theyw-pass around: with therttable 10.1. The zf-rictional; burnishingaction of the: mat: combines i z with the 1- cleaning: wand burnishing-zactionof thee-chemical- 2i to-impart anaeflicient polish-to -all surf-aces of: the work exposedrto :the :mate

The-unat :3 Dds :detachably carried 'by a rotary head =-oridiskz3 i whichdn turn-v is mounted: centrally; on the lower end of a. shaft 32rthatrprorjectsedown-v intovthe: tankfrom; a. bearing .head 83: =.'I'his=head--is carri-eduat the outer end ofan arm- 64 that-has a sleeve w 35- at its. inner" end mounted rfor verticalr-adjustment .on-the upper endea standard: 36: A' feather. 31 prevents the sleeve-dromturning on: theestandard and a setscrew- 38-holdsathe sleeve in adjusted. position. Adjustment of the sleeve isaefiected bygth'eiturne ing-of ai jack-screw 39-gthat is mounted in' the standardaandis threaded througha coverJO fixedly mountedpnthelupper end of the sleeve;

7 A- motorll is carried .byan arm .42 projecting forwardly from the sleeve 35'; in opposition to the arm 34,--and :a belt and pulleydriving connection r43siswprovided between..the motor. shaft and mat shaft 32.-. Theimotor 4| is. shownas pivotally-carriedbyits arm. 42 'to permit adjustmentof theidrivingl beltttension, and; such ad justment is. leffectedl.by-..ascrew fl on the arm; Thea-axes of. the mat shaftj32. and the motor 4| arepreferably parallelto the turning axis of the work-carrying table 5'. If desired, more than-d one mat and its mounting and driving unit mayebe; employed, as indicatei in dotted lines in Fig. e1, so that :theework-pieces asthey revolve with -thertable -may be successively acted onby difierent -mats, turning i-n the-same'orw difierent directions:

While. matsrof various :Iorms end construction maybe used, a. novel .and'reflicient :iorm iorrthe purposesiis showniin Figsi: 3, F4 and and in cludes -a plurality of flekiblei strips =45io a suite abi abrasiveresistant material; preferably rubher because -it" we be readily *moldedand used in varying thicknesses. These strips are clamped together at their inner edges by cross-rods or bolts 46 together with shallow inner edge spacing strips 41, so that the outer free edge portions of the bufiing strips 45 are transversely spaced from each other for free relative flexing movements. Y These free edges 10ft the: bufiing strips are notched to provide each with a plurality of fingers 48 spaced lengthwise thereof and preferably alternating in position with the fingers and notches of the immediately adjoining strips. Some of the spacers 41, which may be of metal;: have-threaded studs 49 projecting upwardtherefromxfor insertion through openings rinthel'mat headrBi and to receive nuts for fastening the mat to the head. Difierent mat structures-.maybemadaby varying the thickness of the abrading and spacer strips and by increasing or diminishing the number and lengths and the stifiness of the abrading strips to give a coarse;.vmediurmorrfinely flnisheds surface .to the polishe dealfticle-..- a:

In operation, the articlesato be, bufied and burnished are successively secured totthe: rear elevated portion-of the table rim :l n: .as it passes througlrthe receiving zone: B and these as thetable turns; pass downward and .forward through the burnishingechemical \2 Lin the lower portion ofthe tank zflrandunder the: rotary buffing mat on mats-= 30 in buffi-ng engagement; therewith..- The turninggofamat headdn engagement with. the top exposedz- -.surfaces; of. theworkpieces, while submergedv in. the vburnishing; solution 2 I or e wetted .-.thereby, -efects a a thorough rapid, economical and :eiiicient. hurnishing. of sthework without-danger to the workmanaandiwithout personal :handling: of the-work. Asrthe; work ade vancesi-with the slow movement of the .tabler it leavesthe. burnishing. solution2lianduis quite thoroughly drained of such solutionrbeforelleayr. ing the .tank. 20. and passingathroughthe .wash. ing zone A. After-;washing, .the. burnishedarticle may be removed .fromlthe table ,rirmlflEinthe zone B. andanother article to .be burnished. sub: stitutedlthereforv It is found-in. practice that-this. machineefiects a thorough. and emcient i burnishing of articles placed on theltable .rim .10 that suchbu'rnish: ing=is accomplished much moremapidlyethane ii the same parts are burnished by.hand;.sthat-.the expense involved in operating thel machineis very muchwless than, the expense involved, both in-laborrandmaterials, in hand .buffing; that the expensive exhaust. systemmthatl is. ,necessarilya part of r a hand buffing. operation .can. be .elimi= natedr and. that other advantages and. savings aremade.

We wish it understood that our invention .is not limited to any specific. construction, arrangement tor form of s the parts, as -it isecapableiof numerous modificationsand changes withoutzdea parting from the spirit of the claims.

Having:- thus ---describedour; invention;; what we claim asinew; andwdesire 5130i; secure-7 by "United States Letters Patent; is i 1. Ami'article ..burnishing machine: having a' tank with its bottominclineds to a. horizontal-and adapted to hold a burnishing liquidfinthe lower sideiportionethereof; and to drain liquid to said 'lower-.-side:portionr-from elevated portions 0f the tank. bottom, a vburnishing liquid in saidf :ta'nk; an endless article-carrying means movable through the tank and liquid therein ona-n in clinee substantially corresponding to that ofthe tanlnland means -operahle-to coact with and bun article is in said liquid.

y ried by said first means when in the "uid-holding-portion of thetank.

an article earned by said si nals when the 2,-YAI1; article, burnishinggl machine having I a ank forholding, a, burnishing.;-liquid, aburnishlower loop portion, means for moving said first means, and means'operable to bufi articles cara lower liq- 4. In an article burnishing machine, a tank for holding a burnishing liquid, a burnishing liquid in said tank, a rotary member having an article-carrying rim portion rotatable in an inclined plane to move articles successively from an elevated article-removing-and-receiving zone to a lower zone in the tank and into the liquid therein and then back to said first zone, and means for bufiing the carried articles while in said lower zone.

5. In an article burnishing machine, a tank for containing a burnishing liquid, a burnishing liquid in said tank, a rotary member having an annular foraminous rim portion for carrying articles to be burnished and movable in a plane inclined to a horizontal with its lower arc of movement through the liquid in the tank, and means projecting into the tank for bumng the carried articles when wet with the tank liquid.

6. In an article burnishing machine, an inclined bearing, a tank U-form in plan and transversely straddling said bearing with its bottom plane disposed on an incline substantially normal to the bearing axis, the loop portion of the tank being lower than its leg ends, a burnishing liquid in said lower tank portion, means rotatable on said bearing in substantially the inclined plane of the tank and having an article-carrying rim portion movable through the tank liquid, means for rotating said means, and means operable to buii articles carried by said first means when in the liquid-holding portion of the tank.

7. In an article abrading machine, a tank U-shaped in plan having its bottom inclined to a horizontal with its loop portion lowermost and with its leg ends open, a bearing disposed between the legs of the tank and having its axis substantially normal to the plane of incline of the tank bottom, a member mounted on said bearing and having an annular rim portion rotatable through said tank in substantially the plane of incline of its bottom and adapted to carry articles to be abraided and for passage through the tank and through the open ends of its leg portions, means for wetting the articles as they pass through the lower loop portion of the tank, and means for abrading the articles when in the loop portion of the tank.

. ng, liquid {in said tank,: a'rotatable table having an.article-carrying rim portion, said :table and its rim-:;being rotatable in aplane inclined-to a iihorizontal withv the lower article-carrying porition' thereof. submerged in the-burnishing liquid :and with;the rim depending into the tank from .the table, means for rotating the table; and means .for'buffingthe carried articles when in *zthetank liquid,

.1- 3.'In an article. burnishing-machine, a tank Ui-shaped-inplanior .containing a burnishing liquid, a burnishingliquid in-said tank, the tank xihaving its ,bottom on..,an incline to a horizontal 1 "with its 'loopportion lowermost to hold the liquid --therein and with openingsz-in the endsof its leg portions-"which are ele vated,- article-carrying 2 means movable on, an inclineinto and out of the ii-tank'throughitsend openings and throughthe "'lowerloopportion thereof .-and the liquid-in said a; In ;--an article abradi'ng 1 machiney a tank the legs of the tank and having its axis 'substan tially normal to the plane f, iiiclin'e of thetank bottom, a member mounted on'-"s aidbearing and having an annular-riniportion rotatable through said tank in 1 substantially: the plane of incline 1 of its bottom and adapted to'ca'rry articles to-be abraded and for passage through the tank'and through the open ends of its leg portionsjmeans for wetting the articles as" they pass through the lower loop portion of the tank, a rotatable abrading head projectedinto' the loop portion of thetank for engagement with a registering article on said member rim, the axis of rotation of said head being substantially parallel to said bearing axis, and means for rotating saidhead.

'9. In a machine of the class described,-a tank having its bottom inclined to a horizontaland adaptedto' contain a liquid in the lower'portion an annular article carrier mounted for rotation around said bearing and toipass throughsaid lower portion of the tank insubmerg'ed relation to a liquid therein and to pass therefrom to relatively elevated washing and take-oil positions, and means for bufilng an article on said carrier when in said lower portion of the tank.

10. In a machine of the class described, a frame, an inclined bearing on said frame, a looped form of tank extending partially around said bearing in a plane substantially normal to its axis and having its loop at the lower side of the bearing and adapted to contain a liquid and to receive drainage from the adjacent'more elevated portions of the tank, an annular table mounted for rotation on said bearing through the loop portion of said tank in substantially the plane of its incline and to washing and loading positions beyond the tank ends, means projected into the lower portion of the tank to bufl a registering article on the table, and means for driving said last means.

11. In a machine of the class described, a frame, an inclined bearing on said frame, a

looped form of tank extending partially around said bearing concentric thereto and in a plane substantially normal to the bearing axis, said tank having its loop at the lower side of the bear ing and adapted to contain a burnishing liquid and having portions extending upward on an incline from said loop portions to direct liquid drainage on said inclined portions down into said loop portion, said inclined portions having open ends elevated relative to said loop portion, a

sump between said open ends, an annular table mounted for rotation on said bearing through the loop and inclined portions of the tank and the open ends of the latter in substantially the plane of said incline and over said sump and to a loading position between said ends, means projected into the lower portion of the tank to buff a bottom inclined to a horizontal and with the 

